Geranium plant named &#39;Elegance Lavender&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Regal Geranium plant named ‘Elegance Lavender’, characterized by its early flowering; free-flowering habit; bright lavender-colored flowers with a purple eye and a mounded, bushy plant habit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Plant Patent Application No. 60/603,817 filed Aug. 23, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Pelargonium×domesticum

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Elegance Lavender’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium×domesticum known by the varietal name ‘Elegance Lavender’. The new variety was discovered in a selected breeding program in Lompoc, Calif. The new variety is a selection from the cross of unpatented proprietary breed variety Seedling #197 Lavender, as the female parent, and unpatented proprietary breed variety Seedling #102 Lavender, as the male parent. The new variety was first asexually reproduced by cuttings in Connellsville, Pa. The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

The cultivar, when grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville, Pa. using natural light and temperatures of 60° F. night and 68° F. day, has a response time of twelve weeks from a rooted cutting to flowering in a 6 inch pot. The response time was determined on plants grown in soilless media employing constant fertilizer 150-200 parts per million of nitrogen and potassium in full light. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Elegance Lavender’. Characteristics that distinguish ‘Elegance Lavender’ as a new and distinct cultivar from others known to the breeder include:

1. ‘Elegance Lavender’ is very early to flower;

2. Very free flowering;

3. Covers the plant very well with flowers; and

4. Earlier, with more free flowering than ‘Emperor’ (not patented).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new cultivar at fifteen weeks from potting a rooted cutting. The data which defines these characteristics were collected by asexual reproductions carried out by Oglevee, Ltd. in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The color readings were taken on a plant under 65-85 foot candles of fluorescent cool white light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

Plant

-   Form: Medium mound. -   Height: 21-23 cm. from soil to top of foliage. -   Growth: Upright, free basal branching. -   Strength: Does not require artificial support. -   Foliage: Stalked leaf attachment; medium green foliage. -   Rooting time: Roots visible to outside of artificial medium plug in     25-28 days. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Stipules.—Two per node.         -   Size.—Length: 5-7 cm. Width: 6-8 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform; truncate base.         -   Margin.—Serrated; lobed.         -   Texture.—Leathery.         -   Pubescence.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group 137A. Lower surface: Green             Group 138B.         -   Ribs and veins.—Venation: Palmate. Color: Yellow-Green Group             146D. -   Petioles:     -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Length.—2.9-3.8 cm. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Internode length.—2.7-4.1 cm.

The Bud

-   Development stage when bud characteristics were determined: Just     prior to sepals parting at tips. -   Shape of cluster:     -   -   Overall.—Elliptical cluster when no color showing.         -   Individual bud.—Elliptical or oval when no color showing. -   Size:     -   -   Overall.—2.0-2.1 cm. across.         -   Individual bud.—1.3-1.7 cm. long; 0.7-0.9 cm. wide.         -   Sepals of floret.—Five sepals; 1.4-1.5 cm. long; 0.4-0.5 cm.             wide. -   Number of buds per cluster.—4-9.

Inflorescence

-   Blooming habit: Continuous; large florets forming full flower heads.     -   -   Size (diameter of umbel): 6.5-7.5 cm. across.         -   Borne.—Flowers on umbel; umbel on pedicel; pedicel on             peduncle 2-3 cm. above the foliage. -   Florets:     -   -   Form.—Extremely cupped; cone shaped.         -   Numbers of florets per umbel.—4-9.         -   Size.—Diameter: 3.7-4.2 cm. across. Depth: 3.2-3.3 cm. deep.         -   Sepals.—Size: 1.7-1.8 cm. long; 0.3-0.6 cm. wide. Color:             Green-Yellow Green Group 146D under and edges Greyed-Purple             Group 187B.         -   Petals.—Upper petals have an eye (approximately the upper             3). Color: Upper surface: Upper petals: Outer edge is Purple             Group 78B, some petals have a darker area near the outer             edge of Purple Group 78A, moving to Purple Group 77C toward             the outer edge near the base. The base of the petal is             white. Some florets have petals of a brighter and darker             tone at the outer edge being Red-Purple Group 74A, moving to             Purple Group 77C. The eye color ranges from (nearest the             outer edge of the petal): Red Purple Group 74B then             Greyed-Purple Group 187A, after the darkest area, the eye             fades Red-Purple Group 71A and Red-Purple Group 72A.             Additionally, veining of Red-Purple Group 71A, Red-Purple             Group 74A, and Greyed-Purple Group 187A is pronounced from             the base extending through ¾ of the petal. Lower petals:             Outer edge is Purple Group 78A, moving to Purple Group 75A             near the center of the petal and fading to Purple Groups 75B             and C near the base. Some petals are much brighter and             darker than others being Red-Purple Group 74A at the outer             edge moving to Red-Purple Group 71C. Some petals have             streaks of Red-Purple Group 71D starting near the base of             the petal extending through ¾ of the petal. Darker veining             of Red-Purple Group 71A and Red-Purple Group 74A is present             starting at the base and extending toward the outer edge             through ¾ of the petal. Lower surface: Upper petals: Purple             Group 78B, fading to Purple Group 78C, and Purple Group 78D             near the base. Eye and veining show through. Lower petals:             Purple Group 78C with streaks of Purple Group 78C fading to             Purple Group 75D at the base.         -   Shape.—Inverted teardrop.         -   Size.—Length: 3.4-3.7 cm. Width: 2-0-2.9 cm. wide.         -   Margin.—Complete.         -   Number per floret.—5-9. -   Texture and appearance: Smooth, velvety, highly reflective. -   Tonality from a distance: Bright magenta-purple flowers with a     striking royal purple-wine eye. Flowers saturate and nestle into a     mound of bushy medium green foliage. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity.—None. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—1.5-1.6 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 145A at base moving to Green Group             137B near the calyx, some accent pigmentation of             Greyed-Purple Group 187B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—3.5-6.5 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A. -   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases has been     noted to date. -   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to pests has been noted     to date. -   Lasting quality: The individual umbels will last from 14-21 days.     Overall blooming habit is continuous. -   Fragrance: None.

Reproductive Organs

-   Stamens:     -   -   Quantity.—0-2.         -   Anthers.—Length: 2-2.5 mm long; 0.5 mm thick. Color: White             Group 155B to Red-Purple Group 73C.         -   Filaments.—Length: 7-9 mm. Color: White Group 155D. Pollen:             Sparse. -   Pistils:     -   -   Number.—One.         -   Length.—1.4-1.6 cm.         -   Stigma.—Number: One. Color: Deep orchid as it ages turning a             muted purple-mauve.         -   Style.—Length: 0.8-0.9 cm. Color: Deep orchid. -   Ovaries:     -   -   Completeness.—Superior.         -   Pubescence.—Highly pubescent.         -   Length.—7 mm.         -   Width.—3 mm.         -   Color.—Wine/burgundy (obscured by white pubescence). -   Fruit: None observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium named ‘Elegance Lavender’ as herein described and illustrated. 